GradWeb to Slate Transition

Overview

The Division of Graduate Studies is replacing GradWeb with Slate for many current student processes. This transition represents a major modernization effort and will streamline workflows for students, faculty, and program staff. Program staff can expect a more centralized system and improved student tracking and reporting through integrated dashboards. 

Beginning July 15th, the Grad Student Portal in Slate will become the system used for the following current student processes that are currently managed in GradWeb:

  • Academic Leave (all students)
  • Application to Graduate (all students)
  • Advancement to Candidacy (doctoral students)
  • Dissertation Committee formation and updates (doctoral students)
  • Dissertation Defense scheduling (doctoral students)

Until July 1st, these processes continue to be completed in GradWeb.

Important: There will be approximately two weeks of downtime for both GradWeb and the new Grad Student Portal during the July transition. (Note: there will be no disruption on the admissions side of Slate.) 

Use the Right System

  • Before July 1, 2026: Continue submitting requests in GradWeb.
  • After July 15, 2026: Submit requests through the Grad Student Portal (Slate) for the processes listed above.

Summer 2026 Graduates - Special Timing Guidance

Please note the following guidance for students planning to graduate in Summer term 2026:

  • All students: Submit the Application to Graduate in GradWeb by June 30.
  • Doctoral students:
    • Submit the Application for Defense before July 1 or after July 15.
    • If a student must apply during system downtime, they may email the Division of Graduate Studies for assistance.

Access for Program Staff 

  • Program staff who currently have full access to any current student processes in GradWeb will automatically have access in Slate. 
  • Faculty do not need a Slate account to review student requests in their faculty role. Only those serving in an administrative capacity - acting on requests on behalf of a program - will require program staff access. 
  • New program staff can submit an access request form (link coming soon).

Training for Program Staff

Training videos (coming soon)

Slate handbook (coming soon)

Information sessions (Zoom link sent by email)

  • Mondays 10-11am on June 1, 15, 29; July 13, 27
  • Thursdays 3-4pm on June 11, 25; July 9, 23

Drop-in office hours (Zoom link sent by email)

  • Thursdays 10-11am starting June 18

Highlighted Policy and Procedure Changes 

Alongside the system transition, several policies and procedures are also changing. Implementation of the following changes will coincide with the rollout of the Grad Student Portal.

Academic Leave (all students) 

  • No longer requires program approval. 
  • Medical/parental documentation is no longer required. 
  • Leave taken for medical or parental reasons will no longer automatically extend the student’s 7‑year completion deadline.
  • Please note: due to limitations with the way that student leave balances are stored in GradWeb, we expect that there may be some inconsistencies with our calculations of how much leave each student has taken. Please let us know if you notice any leave balances that don’t align with your records.
  • View full academic leave policy.  

Advancement to Candidacy (doctoral) 

  • Requests will now be initiated by students rather than program staff. 
  • We will no longer track program‑specific advancement requirements in the system; instead, the student and program will confirm that all program‑level requirements have been met. 
  • View full advancement to candidacy policy. 

Dissertation Committees (doctoral) 

  • Expanded eligibility for career faculty to serve as dissertation committee advisors.  
  • Ability for faculty who retire or leave the UO to continue serving on existing committees as core member, co-chair, or co-advisor until the student graduates (current policy allows for up to one year after departure).  
  • Terminology change: the “chair” role will now be referred to as “advisor.” No change for those programs whose committees include separate roles for the chair and advisor.  
  • Committee service petitions (e.g., for non-UO committee members) will now be submitted through an online workflow rather than a PDF. 
  • Committee formation and updates will now be student‑initiated. 
  • View full dissertation committee policy. 

Application to Graduate (all students) 

  • Students may only apply for programs that appear on their official student record, reducing the need for review of application accuracy. 
  • Updated deadlines aligned with undergraduate timelines: priority deadline is Sunday of week 4; petitions are required after that point. 
  • Programs will simply approve graduation requests; we will no longer refer to this as a “Statement of Completion.” 
  • View graduation policies and procedures. 

Dissertation Defenses (doctoral) 

  • Change in terminology from “Oral Defense” to “Dissertation Defense.”  
  • View dissertation defense procedures.